- Career Brew
- Posts
- How to Create Career Security And Reduce Your Stress.
How to Create Career Security And Reduce Your Stress.
Build a Side Hustle
Glen Patterson
February 25, 2025
Did you know that 40% of jobs are at high risk of being automated, leaving millions of professionals vulnerable to career shocks? But there’s a secret to smoothing out these shocks and future-proofing your career: starting a side hustle.
Lesson 1. Choose a Side Hustle That Aligns with Your Career Goals
Source.X
A side hustle should do more than just bring in extra income, it should position you for career growth. The best side hustles help you build new skills, expand your network, and increase job security.
If you’re in tech: Freelance coding, UI/UX design, or building a tech-based consulting brand.
If you’re in marketing: Social media management, content writing, or personal branding services.
If you’re in education: Online tutoring, course creation, or academic coaching.
If you’re in sales or customer service: E-commerce, affiliate marketing, or launching a small business.
Example: A marketing professional facing slow career advancement starts a personal brand management consultancy, helping small businesses grow online. This expands their portfolio, builds leadership experience, and creates opportunities for new job offers.
Source.X
Lesson 2. Use a Side Hustle as a Career Safety Net
A side hustle can act as a career insurance policy, ensuring that a negative income shock (such as a layoff) doesn’t leave you stranded. Instead of scrambling for a new job, you can lean on your side hustle for career stability.
How to Do It:
Start building your side hustle before you need it.
Dedicate 5–10 hours per week to growing your skills and client base.
Use your side hustle to stay connected to industry trends, making you a more valuable job candidate.
Example: A project manager loses her full-time role due to company downsizing but has already been freelancing as a virtual business consultant. While job searching, she expands her freelance work and eventually secures a new role with higher pay and better career mobility.
Lesson 3. Build Your Professional Brand Outside of Your 9–5
Your reputation in the industry matters more than ever. If layoffs happen, recruiters and hiring managers are more likely to reach out to professionals with strong online presence.
LinkedIn Networking: Share insights, industry knowledge, or side hustle success stories.
Speaking Engagements: Host webinars, join panels, or create industry-specific content.
Thought Leadership: Write blogs, create YouTube videos, or contribute to industry forums.
Example: A HR professional creates an Instagram account sharing career advice for underrepresented professionals. This leads to speaking engagements, brand collaborations, and eventually, a senior HR leadership role at a Fortune 500 company.
Career Stability, Not Just Financial Stability
Imagine never feeling powerless after a job loss.
Imagine having career options, whether your job promotes you or not.
Imagine being sought after by recruiters and hiring managers because your brand and skills speak for themselves.
A side hustle isn’t just about making extra money — it’s about creating career security and growth on your terms.
Take Control of Your Career Future
Choose a side hustle today that aligns with your career goals.
Dedicate a few hours each week to developing your expertise.
Use your side hustle to build leverage for future job negotiations.
Your career is yours to control. No company, boss, or economy should dictate your success. The key to smoothing out career shocks is creating multiple career pathways — so you’re never left scrambling when the unexpected happens.
Start now. Build your career resilience. The future is yours to shape.
Job Board. 💼
New Opportunities
Find your North Star.
Find your North Star.
Stay positive. Stay focused. Keep learning. Stay connected.
Wishing you continued success!
Thank you for being a part of our community. We look forward to bringing you more valuable insights and resources in the future.
We value your feedback! It helps us create content you’ll love. Tell us what career topics you’d like to see covered — we’re listening! Just reply to this message, and we’ll get back to you. Thanks for reading, and we’ll see you next time!
If you decide to take the plunge and subscribe I’m committed to supporting you every step of the way.